As the Sunrise Mountain football team prepares for its first season in 5A Northwest section, the Mustangs faced a tougher test than expected Sept. 21 against Buckeye Verrado.

The Mustangs defense came up huge with three fourth-quarter stops to secure a 20-19 victory at Sunrise Mountain High School.

With the Mustangs leading 20-13 with just over four minutes left in the game, Verrado drove down the field and got within one when quarterback Titan Widjaja hit running back Lateef Hampton on a 19-yard strike in the end zone.

Verrado head coach Tom Ward called for the 2-point conversion attempt, but the Sunrise Mountain defense came up with a huge stop of Hampton at the goal line to keep the Mustangs with a one-point lead.

Verrado recovered the onside kick on the ensuing play, but the Mustangs defense came up with a big stop when Coltin Church sacked Widjaja on fourth down, giving the Mustangs the ball at midfield with two minutes left in the game.

After the Verrado defense forced the Mustangs to punt with less than a minute left in the game, giving the Vipers one last chance from their own 29-yard line, the Sunrise Mountain defense came up with another huge stop.

GOODYEAR DESERT EDGE SCORPIONS 27, PEORIA PANTHERS 22

Seconds away from remaining undefeated, Desert Edge scored on a long pass as time expired to secure a 27-22 victory over the Panthers Sept. 21 at Desert Edge High School.

Peoria scored with 21 seconds left in the game when quarterback Kyle Samford connected on a 41-yard touchdown pass to Jovon Scott, putting the Panthers up 22-21.

But on the ensuing play for Desert Edge, quarterback Adryan Lara dropped back, avoided two Peoria defenders, and fired a 61-yard touchdown pass that was caught in the end zone by Jihad Marks for the winning touchdown.

Peoria’s Samford passed for 295 yards and two touchdowns while Scott grabbed seven receptions for 201 yards in the loss.

CENTENNIAL COYOTES 35, GOODYEAR MILLENNIUM TIGERS 9

Centennial was led by quarterback Jonathan Morris who completed 11 of 21 passes for 136 yards and three touchdowns while Tawee Walker rushed for 92 yards and a touchdown. Dyelan Miller caught two touchdown passes and Eric Haney caught one, while Jaydin Young rushed for a 9-yard touchdown in the win.

Walker also intercepted a pass on defense and A.J. Jackson and Tanner Durfee each recovered a fumble for the Centennial defense.